Competition Calendar
2025 Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day Competition Calendar
Welcome! This is where you’ll find all the poetry competitions happening around the motu — from national challenges to local gems. Whether you're polishing a masterpiece or penning something new, this is your place to find where to submit your work.
We’ll be adding competitions regularly in the lead-up to National Poetry Day, so keep checking in. New opportunities to share your words — and maybe even win something!
Get ready to write, submit, and shine!
NATIONWIDE
Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook Student Poetry Competition 2025
Entries are now open for the annual Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook student poetry competition for 2025. Entries will be judged by Yearbook editor, Tracey Slaughter. The winning poems from each year group will be published in the 2026 edition, and all winners and placegetters receive a monetary prize and copy of Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2025. Their schools receive the 2024 edition for their school library. Please send us up to three previously unpublished original poems. Poems should be supplied in either Word or PDF format and can be of any length, style and subject matter.
Entry details: Free to enter. Open to all Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students attending a New Zealand school. Please indicate what year you are in and the name of your school in your entry.
Submission dates: Friday 16 May to Friday 27 June 2025
Contact: Please submit entries to editorial@masseypress.ac.nz
Further info: See submission guidelines in full on masseypress.ac.nz/news
Poems for Children written by Grown Ups: Competition!
In the lead-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2025, the Poets XYZ are running a nationwide competition for adults who write poetry for primary-school-aged children.
Theme: All will be revealed on June 20 but in the meantime check out the 100-day poetry writing challenge running on the Poets XYZ facebook page. We will be picking our theme from the ones used in the challenge.
Judge: Renowned children’s writer and poet, Bill Nagelkerke
Entry details: Anyone aged 18+ living in Aotearoa New Zealand
Entry Fee: Free
Submission Dates: Opens 20 June 2025 | Closes midnight, Friday 1 August 2025
How to Enter: entry details will be posted on the facebook page
More Info: Visit the Poets XYZ facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093831234880)
Toitū He Kāinga National Poetry Competition
We’re inviting entries to explore Māori relationships with the built environment. You might explore how we live in, move through, remember, protect, reclaim, or reshape the environments we build and inhabit.
This competition is open to people who whakapapa Māori. Our aim is to create space for Māori perspectives and creative expression about the built environment — grounded in the principle of Māori-led storytelling and self-determination.
Submit your best poem in English or Te Reo Māori. The winning English and Te Reo Māori entries will be published online and submitted for publication in our book on cities (expected to be published mid-late 2026).
Entry Details: Entry is free and open to Māori aged 16 years and over. One poem per person. Poems should be previously unpublished and can be of any length, any style. Submit your entry at www.tinyurl.com/thkcomp
Submission Dates: Entries open 01 July 2025, entries close on Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 22 August 2025. Winners to be announced in late September.
Contact Details: james.berghan@twoa.ac.nz
Further Info: TBA
Given Words
Given Words returns for Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2025. On 1 August, we will publish five 'Word Films' made by international poetry filmmakers. You then have until midnight on 22 August to send us your poem, which must include the five words. The words can be in any order and verbs can change tense. The Best Poem and Best Poem by Under-16s, selected by Sophia Wilson, Pat White and Charles Olsen, will receive prizes courtesy of The Cuba Press and Massey University Press. There is also a Class plan available for teachers to use with their students.
Entry Details: Free entry. Open to all NZ citizens and residents. Maximum length 200 words. One poem per person. Submit your poem by email including your full name and town of residence to nzgivenwords@gmail.com
Submission Dates: 1 August to midnight on 22 August
Contact Details: Charles Olsen – nzgivenwords@gmail.com
Further Info: nzgivenwords.blogspot.co.nz | Instagram @givenwords
Conservation Blackout Poetry Competition
To celebrate the digitisation of all Forest & Bird Magazine issues from 1924 to 2004 on Papers Past, Blackout Poetry Aotearoa is launching a nationwide blackout poetry competition running from 1 July to 5 August 2025. Participants are invited to create a blackout poem using an article from the issue closest to their birthday—or matching the final digit of their birth year if born after 2004. With adult and under-18 categories, the competition encourages reflections on conservation, native species, and the protection of Aotearoa’s natural world. Winning and runner-up entries will be exhibited at the WordCore Wayfinders showcase on National Poetry Day and the winners will be published in Forest & Bird.
Entry Details: Free. We are especially keen to hear from people who might not consider themselves 'poets', but may have an interest, and want to give poetry a try. Blackout is a great entry point! All entries must be via email. Information and instructions for the competition can be viewed here.
Submission Dates: Competition to run 1st July to 5th August — announced on 22nd August, at the WordCore event/online. Winners contacted beforehand.
Contact Details: Hebe Kearney, blackoutpoetryaotearoa@gmail.com
Forest & Bird issues on Papers Past: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/forest-and-bird/
AUCKLAND
Auckland Libraries: For the Love of Reading Poetry Competition
Poetry competition encouraging attendees of Mt Albert, Mt Roskill, Epsom and Pt Chevalier Libraries to write and submit poems inspired by what THEY love to read! Winners will receive custom-printed bookmarks featuring their poems - which will also be distributed through the participating libraries - as well as a poetry-themed prize pack.
Entry Details: Entry is free.
Submission Dates: 9am 1 August to 6pm 19 August. Winners announced, and their poems (and custom bookmarks) shared within the libraries on 22nd August to celebrate NPD.
Mt Albert Library, Chloe Pope, Chloe.pope@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Epsom Library: Sarah Choi, Sarah.choi@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Library Connect (ask for which library you would like to contact): 09 377 0209
Further Info: Facebook.com/MtAlbertLibrary | Facebook.com/epsomlibrary
MANAWATŪ-WHANGANUI
Guyton Group Poetry Competition
The Guyton Group Trust cares about the wellbeing of the environment. Write a poem - in the form of your choice - which could be included in the Guyton Street Poetry Trail. Junior category 12 and under, Senior category 13 and over.
Entry Details: Entry is free.
Submission Dates: Post entries to Guyton Group Trust, c/o Paige's Book Gallery, 60 Guyton Street, Whanganui 4500, or deliver in person to Paige's Book Gallery at the above address. Entries close 31 July 2025. Winners announced National Poetry Day 22 August, at Whanganui District Library.
Contact Details: Lesley Stead, lesley@steadanddaughters.com
Pass it on Poetry
Online Poetry Competition open to ages 16 and above. Prize awarded for the Judge's choice. Pass it on Poetry at Eketahuna, Woodville and Dannevirke Libraries. Create a collaborative poem with others, using a prompt. This involves each participant contributing a line or stanza.
Entry Details: Entry is free.
Submission Dates: Tuesday 1 July to Friday 8 August. Winners announced on 22 August.
Contact Details: Pamela.Dais@tararuadc.govt.nz
Further Info: www.facebook.com/LibrariesTararua
WELLINGTON/KAPITI COAST
Kapiti Coast District Annual Poetry Competition
13th Annual Poetry Competition - If You're a Poet, We Want to Know It - is back! Kāpiti Coast District Libraries' annual poetry competition returns for its thirteenth year. All entries will be compiled and published in a print book and eBook. Winners will be announced on National Poetry Day at the Open Mic Night at Paraparaumu Library on Friday 22 August 2025, 5:30–6:30pm.
Entry Details: Entry is free and open to anyone in the Kāpiti community.
Submission Dates: 1-30 June and announced winners on Friday 22 August - Open Mic Poetry Night at the Paraparaumu Library.
Contact Details: Nisa Promchot, nisa.promchot@kapiticoast.govt.nz
WEST COAST
Grey District Library Poetry Competition
Join fellow poetry lovers in a competition to celebrate Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, 2025. The writer of the most engaging poem within each age category will win a prize. Winners will be announced at a Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day event hosted by the Grey District Library on Wednesday 20 August and prize winning poems will be read aloud at two local rest homes.
Entry details: Free. Open to Grey District residents only. Age categories are up to 8 years old; 9 to 13; 14 to 17; and 18 years and over. Poems can be on any topic. One poem per person. Submit your poem, age range, address and contact details by email to poetrycompetition@greydc.govt.nz no later than 4pm Friday 15 August, 2025.
Submission dates: Poetry Competition open from Monday 28 July to 4pm Friday 15 August 2025. Prize giving and poetry readings on Wednesday 20 August 2025.
Contact details: Rachael Flannagan rachael.flannagan@greydc.govt.nz
Further info: Facebook event
OTAGO
Dunedin Youth Poetry Competition
Dunedin Youth Poetry Competition would like to invite young poets across the city to submit to one of 4 age groups Yr 5-6; Yr 7-8; Yr 9-10; Yr 11-13. Samantha Montgomerie will judge the competition, along with a couple of local children's writers in Otago. Entries will be emailed and judged 2 weeks before National Poetry Day.
All participants and place-getters will be invited to attend a prize-giving held just before the NZSA adult event on National Poetry Day in a special prize-giving an hour before that event starts. Families and children may then wish to stay on for the next event.
Entry details: Free.
Submission dates: Call out for poem from June 23rd - July 25th. Judging to take place July 25th - August 4th. Place-getters notified: August 5th - 8th.
Contact details: sam.montgomerie@gmail.com